Associate professor in political science Professor Dominic O'Sullivan said if neither of the big parties enjoyed a clear majority, it was only by the people's considered choice.

"National opinion polls accurately predicted the overall outcome of Saturday's election," Professor O'Sullivan said.

"There is just enough between the two major parties for the Coalition to form government, perhaps on its own, but quite likely only with the support of the Nick Xenophon Team and perhaps one or more independents.

"Minority government will be difficult... but voters might reasonably temper their impatience by remembering that this is the Parliament that they alone elected.”

Professor O'Sullivan said that providing confidence does not mean a government must be supported on every piece of legislation.

"Stability does not require every government bill to pass the lower house," he said.

"If a member holding the balance of power fails to take a position, the parliament fails in its duty and another election is the only possible outcome.”

Professor O'Sullivan noted that while the new Senate's full constitution will not be known for several days, it is already clear the double dissolution was a miscalculation on the part of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

"The Senate will be far more difficult for a Coalition government to work with than the one it positioned as so troublesome as to justify a double dissolution election,” he said.

"There will be a larger crossbench, and although two of the groupings, Mr Xenophon's and Ms Pauline Hanson's, come with clear policy positions, their members are, apart from the leaders, politically unknown.”